Mangesh Sadashiv Kalokhe, husband of newly elected Shiv Sena Corporator Manasi Kalokhe and a former Corporator himself, was brutally hacked to death in broad daylight in Khopoli town of Maharashtra's Raigad district on Friday. The 45-year-old was ambushed while returning home on his motorcycle after dropping his children at school, with assailants using swords, sickles, and an axe to chase and attack him fatally on the spot.

Authorities suspect the murder stems from intense political rivalry following the recent Khopoli Municipal Council elections, where Manasi Kalokhe defeated NCP candidate Urmila Deokar by over 700 votes. Shiv Sena leaders have accused NCP functionaries of orchestrating the killing as post-poll vendetta, escalating tensions between the ruling coalition partners in the state.

Raigad police swiftly formed multiple teams and arrested nine individuals linked to the crime, including Urmila Deokar, her husband Ravindra Parshuram Deokar, their sons Darshan and Dhanesh, and others such as Vishal Deshmukh, Raju More, Sachin Kharade, Mahesh Dhaytadak, and Dilip Pawar. An FIR was registered against additional accused, including NCP Raigad district president Sudhakar Ghare.

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The incident sparked protests by Shiv Sena workers and locals, who gathered outside the police station demanding swift justice. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited the bereaved family, assuring a fast-track trial, invocation of stringent laws, and severe punishment for the perpetrators.

Investigations continue to determine the full extent of the conspiracy, with police relying on technical evidence and witness accounts. The case has highlighted underlying political frictions in the region, drawing condemnation from across parties while underscoring concerns over post-election violence.

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